Are you missing out on the chance to pay less tax?

Thousands of married couples and civil partners in the South-East are missing out on the chance to pay less tax, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned.

More than 323,000 eligible couples in the South-East can still apply for Marriage Allowance, boosting the average family’s finances by £212 each year.

HMRC says it has has simplified the process to apply and couples can apply online at gov.uk/marriage-allowance in a matter of minutes.

Couples will be given up to four years to claim backdated annual allowances to ensure as many as possible do not miss out.

Ruth Owen, Director General, Personal Tax, HMRC, said: “A cash boost is always welcome, and whether you use it to treat your loved one to a romantic dinner, put it towards a cosy weekend break or just help pay the bills, Marriage Allowance means couples in the South-East can save £212 on their tax bill every year. So, don’t lose out – claim today.”

Everyone has a tax-free personal allowance of £10,600 and no tax is due on income up to this amount. The Marriage Allowance allows a spouse or civil partner who earns less than their personal allowance to transfer £1,060 of it to their partner – as long as their partner doesn’t pay more than the basic rate of Income Tax.

About four million married couples, including around 15,000 civil partnerships, stand to benefit from the Marriage Allowance, which was introduced in April 2015.

For more information, go to www.gov.uk/marriage-allowance

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